Process of making shoes



March 1, 1932. P. L.-O"DONNELL 1,347,975

PROCESS OF MAKING. SHOES Filed Sept. 19, 1929' IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 1, 1932 PHILIP L. ODOENN'ELL, or NoRwoon, onxo rnoonss or MAKINesHoEs Application filed September 19,1929. se rial No. 393,792,

My invention relates to processes of making shoes, and particularly to'the step in the process involving the attachment of the counter within the shoe. V v

In the manufacture of shoes having counters, whether they be of leather or fiber, it has been customary, priorto the insertion of the counter within the shoe, to'coat the counter with glue, cement or paste, and then 7 10 insert it between the lining and theshoe upper in the heel portion of the shoe. The coun:

ter extends up toward the shank where it gradually flares away from the top edge so as not to interfere with the free-flexibility of th 1 shoe in the shank portion.' 1 r If the glue, cement or paste is not applied entirely evenly, it is likely to-form lumps which cause an uneven surface on the lining of the shoe, which is uncomfortable to the l I wearer, and also tends to form a spot where the lining will tendto wear out. Further, the process is dirty and tedious. It is my object to obviate the dilficulties in gluing,

cementing or pasting the counters and afterwards inserting them in the shoes, by treating the counters with a heateplastic material and then shortly prior to the insertion withinthe shoe, to pass the counter, preferably on a belt,

through a heating oven so that'the heatplastic cement is rendered adhesive only shortly before the counter is inserted in the shoe.

In my co-pending applicationSerial No. 393,793 of September 19, 1929, I have pro posed the dipping of a shoe counter in a cellulose-hydrate solution which increases the tensile strength of the counter and makes it impervious to moisture or alkalineor acid I reactions. As a further step in the way of a refinement of this process, I may, in addition to the cellulose-hydrate treatment, dip the counter in a gutta-percha tetra-chloride mix ture. The gutta-percha tetra-chloride mixture forms an excellent heat plastic cement,

so that the manufacturer, before assembling last in the usual manner.

2+2 in Figural. I 3

' fiber counter. 1

The above and other objects to which reference'will be madein the'en'suing disclosure I accomplish by the treatment which will here- 7 Referringto the dr ings Figure l is a perspectlve view of a shoe counter. f f f x Figure 2 is a' section taken along thelines The shoe counter has'isides 1, "inwardly edges I flanged attachment portions 12," and top While my process m ay beemployed with i I any type of counter, I prefer to: use it with a As has been stated, I may first dip selected portions of the-counter in a cellulose-hydrate solution and allow itjto dry, or I may dispense with this cellulose-hydrate treatment altogether, the use of the cellulose-hydrat 76 1: 7

comprising an invention distinct froinmy treatment of the counter with heat plastic material. a The-counter manufacturer first forms a fiber blank, and then, under great pressure,

forms the counter to its desired shape. After the counter is formed and is thoroughly dry, it may be dipped in a gutta-percha solution 7 in carbon tetra-chloride mixture which forms a thin layer 4: over the inner and outer surfaces of the counter. The shoe manufacturertakes the counters, which, at the time of shipment are thoroughly dry, and exposes them to some source of heat'tosoften the heat plastic material shortly beforethe counters are inserted in the shoes, and before the shoes are formedon the last.

There is a great saving in the labor required in the inserting of the counters withvanced to a group of operators in a constantly moving stream which does not require any extra movements except the inser tion of the counter within the'shoe. Having V 7 been previously heated, the shoe counter will immediately, become adhesive and stick firmly in place within the shoe, and the step offorming on the last will make a thoroughly good sealing job which will not tend to bend out of shape or crack.

While the particular type of heat plastic cement may be varied, and the particular method of heating the counters by passing them through a heat chamber on a belt may be substituted by heating them in other ways, it should be understood that I con= sider Within the scope of my invention the pretreatment of a shoe counterwith a heatplastic material which is then allowed to dry, and subsequently, prior to inserting the counter in the shoe, the heat-plastic cement is heated so that it may be secured firmly in place within the shoe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Leilters Patent, is

In the art ofmaking shoes, the steps which consist in treating the shoe counters with gutta-percha dissolved in carbon tetra-chloride, allowing the mixture to dry, and, prior to the insertion of the counter within the shoe, heating the counter so as to make the guttaepercha tetra-chloride. mixture adhesive, and then, while in such condition, in: serting the counter within the shoe.

PHILIP L. ODONNELL. 

